This 1 Ingredient Turns Oatmeal Into a Slice of Pie

When I was a kid, I used to dream about growing up and being able to eat dessert for breakfast. I pictured myself digging into towering ice cream sundaes and fat slices of cake. Years later, I’ve found ways to satisfy my morning sweet tooth—like adding jam to oatmeal so that it tastes like pie.

Aside from tasting absolutely delicious, the great thing about this 1-ingredient oatmeal upgrade is that it’s incredibly easy and versatile. Whether you love a warm bowl of oatmeal or cold overnight oats, or favor peach or blueberry pie, this sweet hack is for you. And it’s especially perfect for winter, when summer fruit is harder to find.

How to Add Jam to Oatmeal

I’ll get into some fun flavor combinations in a minute, but the sky really is the limit when it comes to adding jam to oatmeal. The key thing to know is that jam is made with crushed fruits, so if you’re looking for bigger chunks like you would find in most berry pies, you should opt for preserves. And, while jelly will add lots of fruit flavor, it’s made with juices, so it doesn’t offer much texture.

When making a big pot of oatmeal, I like to wait until it comes time to serve to add the jam so that it doesn’t disappear into the oats or dye the entire batch an odd shade. I spoon on a big scoop, along with any other toppings I’m in the mood for, and gently mix it in right before I dig in.

I usually mix all of the add-ins together in single-serve containers when I make overnight oats. But, for the same reasons as above, I like to add the jam in layers, as if I were making parfaits. This means you’ll have to blend the oats and other ingredients—like milk and sugar—in a separate bowl, then alternate adding the oat mixture and jam into the containers. (The extra dirty dish is worth it.) And because I like the way the top jam layer looks, I often wait to add it in the morning so that it doesn’t sink overnight.

This upgrade also works with baked oatmeal recipes. Simply swirl in the jam in place of the whole fruits and bake as usual.

Three Combinations That Taste Like Dessert

Peach Pie: Peach pie is one of my all-time favorites, and a good-quality peach jam, along with crumbled shortbread cookies, gives plain oats the same classic taste and texture. I like to garnish my bowl with a drizzle of vanilla creamer for à la mode vibes.

Cherry Pie: I don’t usually put cherry jam on toast, but boy, does it taste good in oatmeal. It goes particularly well with nuts, like almonds and pistachios, and sometimes I add in a dollop of mascarpone cheese—the flavor and texture reminds me of cheesecake.

Strawberry Shortcake: I know strawberry shortcake isn’t a pie, but who cares when we’re talking about making a relatively plain breakfast food taste like dessert? I like to use an extra-chunky strawberry jam for this one, along with a bit of vanilla extract (added to the oatmeal). And finishing it off with whipped cream is a must.